My Love Burns for Anyone Worth It novel Chapter 19

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**Vows Became Blame by Mark Twain**

**Chapter 19**

After the tempestuous exit of Sebastian and Ronald that fateful evening, Tessa’s heart sank under the weight of her apprehensions. She was convinced they would pursue Bella with fervor, eager to exact revenge. Yet, when the dawn broke and the sun cast its warm rays on the campus, the two boys returned, their demeanor deceptively calm, as if the storm had never occurred.

In the recesses of her mind, Tessa replayed their ominous words like a haunting melody.

“Tess, you’ll pay for what you’ve done.”

Days turned into a blur of anxiety as she braced herself for the inevitable fallout. She could feel the tension coiling within her, a tight knot of dread that refused to loosen. But as the days rolled on without incident, a flicker of hope ignited within her. Perhaps they had chosen to sever their ties without resorting to violence. Maybe they had moved on, leaving her to navigate her own path unscathed.

With a sense of cautious optimism, Tessa adopted a more subdued presence on campus. She convinced herself that if she could just endure the next few years, she could sell off the gifts they had bestowed upon her, slip away into anonymity, and carve out a respectable life with the degree she was working hard to obtain.

She had committed to the freshman orientation event weeks in advance, a choice she couldn’t retract. Without the support of Sebastian and Ronald, she felt stripped of her usual bravado. All she could do was pray that the day would unfold without incident.

As the orientation approached, she began to pick up on hushed conversations around her. The intensity of the whispers sent shivers down her spine, but whenever she turned to investigate, she found no one paying her any attention. Perhaps it was merely her imagination running wild, a symptom of her growing paranoia.

However, during her performance at the orientation, everything changed in an instant. A team of police officers stormed the stage, their presence a stark contrast to the festive atmosphere, and they took her away, leaving her in a state of disbelief.

It was then that the realization hit her like a cold wave: the whispers had been about her all along.

“I want to see Sebastian and Ronald! I demand to see them!” she cried out, her voice rising in desperation as she struggled against the officers, refusing to comply.

But the boys had shed their fear. They had meticulously gathered evidence and handed it over to the authorities, sealing her fate.

By the time Bella caught wind of the unfolding drama, the die had already been cast.

Tessa faced charges of intentional injury. Despite the undeniable evidence stacked against her, she stood her ground, refusing to plead guilty or show an ounce of remorse. The gavel fell, and she was sentenced to three years in prison, along with expulsion from Eastbridge College—a fate she could hardly comprehend.

On the day the verdict was announced, the town of Juville experienced its first snowfall of the season, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere surrounding Tessa’s fate.